Mass Removal

From March 24 to November 3, 1942, the mass removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast took place over eight months.Japanese Americans had no charges brought against them, there was no hearing; they did not know where they were going, how long they would be detained, what conditions they would face, nor what would happen to them.

Families were registered and given numbered tags to identify themselves and their belongings. They were told to bring only what they could carry. This included household and personal items they needed for daily living. Families were forced to leave their pets behind.

The sudden upheaval caused extreme hardship for many who were given as little as 48 hours notice to sell their possessions and to dispose of their property. Losses incurred during this time were estimated in the billions of dollars.